I have been hearing the word, “hero” quite a lot in the last couple of weeks. After going to several websites and even perusing the dictionary to find the true definition of this sometimes confusing and even daunting word, I found a few similarities.

A hero seems to be someone who:

Is altruistic- helping someone in need without seeking to reap any type of benefit in return

Is someone who helps someone whether that person requests it or not or even if that person doesn’t know they need help and is struggling to find their own solution

Is an ‘act of generosity’ that does not have to be stellar in impact. It can be a simple act of kindness to someone.

Can be anyone. The “hero” does not have to be a celebrity, anyone famous or even a human being.

I think everyone, at some point in their life, needs a hero. A hero is a champion among people, someone you can look up to and respect and, reportedly, someone some try to emulate. Everyone loves a hero and often, these types of characters are found in books but it’s not unusual to find them in life, too.

The experience of a ‘hero’ doesn’t have to occur just once in your life. As life pushes you onward and the years pass by, one may find they have had several heroes in their life. Some heroes pass through only once in your life, usually for a one-time reason, while others may linger around for a while. Exceptional heroes last a lifetime. A hero can be a relative, a stranger, a friend, a higher power and even an angel. Sometimes, it can even be your pet.

Sadly, some heroes don’t receive our praise.

Heroes come in all shapes and sizes but it’s a fact that we need them in our lives. We need them to smooth out the rough road we travel and to make things a bit brighter and easier along the way. So, for all the heroes- the known and the unknown- we thank you, deeply from our hearts, for all that you do and all that you are. May you continue to be loved, blessed, and supported as you spread hope and encouragement throughout the world. We need you!

Like this:

Related

I love your take on what makes a hero. It is true that a hero can be anyone cause even animals can be heroes. How many animals have saved lives. I remember reading after the Tsunami that hit Thailand during the holidays over 10 years ago. Many people who survived, reported that they followed the animals before it hit as the animals could sense that something was coming and began to move upward towards the mountains. That is amazing and I believe that these animals were heroes as those that followed them survived the Tsunami. I will continue to follow your blog to read your stories. Thanks for sharing with your fans 😊

Thank you Vanessa for your comment and your insight. I agree. Animals can definitely be heroes. I read a recent story about a manatee that hung around a dog who was trying to get out of a dangerous situation. The dog was eventually rescued and the manatee left afterward as it was not needed anymore. It was amazing!